18 September 2019 – A signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concerning Collaboration in Research, Innovation and Technology was held at the Officers’ Mess, Bolkiah Garrison between Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and between MINDEF and Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) respectively.
The MOU was signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma’awiah, for the Ministry of Defence. Signing on behalf of UBD and UTB were Vice Chancellor UBD, Datin Dr. Dayang Hajah Anita Binurul Zahrina binti Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Aziz and Acting Vice Chancellor UTB, Awg Hj Ady Syarmin bin Hj Md Taib respectively.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Second Minister of Defence, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, and the Minister of Education, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman. Also present were other members of the Defence Executive Committee, Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad, the Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) and Dr. Chin Wei Keh, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) of the Ministry of Education, and senior officers from the Ministry of Defence, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, and Universiti Teknologi Brunei.
The objective of the MOU is to promote research and innovation, capacity building and closer partnerships, in defence capabilities and technology, between MINDEF and the two local institutes of higher learnings, through the formation of a Defence Research and Technology Community. The MOU creates opportunities for MINDEF to work collaboratively with an extended network of local experts, and for the development of a critical pool of defence technologists and scientists to serve the nation’s needs.
